Barnes said he spends $145,000 a year in rent for the current Special Operations Division site, which his office has outgrown.

“We’ve not only outgrown it in terms of the people we have there, but the state also has guidelines for our labs that we have to follow,” Barnes said.

The new site — at 508 Industrial Ave. in Greensboro — will need renovations, Barnes said, but he hopes to have the new labs and offices open there by 2015.

“On top of not having to pay rent, which I never like to do, this new site is going to give us room to grow,” Barnes said. “It’s about 6 acres, so we’ll have all the room we need and more, if we need to expand or we want to bring our fleet out there.”

Barnes has spent federal forfeiture funds on sites before — for his Jamestown and District 1 offices. After the new building purchase, the fund will have about $785,000 left, Barnes said.